Your Disability Benefits Explained

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides two programs to financially assist people with disabilities. These federal programs, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are defined by two different sets of eligibility criteria. If you have few…

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal assistance program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA.) SSI is a needs-based program available to assist people with few resources and low income who are 65 years of age or older, or…

If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits, could SSA discontinue your monthly checks? They could, but it would have to be because they have determined that your medical condition has improved and you are able to go back to…

Compassionate Allowance Summary: The Compassionate Allowance initiative quickly identifies individuals who undeniably qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income. Disability benefits for these cases are received within days of filing applications for benefits. The Social Security Administration’s…

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Summary: SSDI is a federal income assistance program managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSDI is available for people who have become seriously disabled and can no longer hold a job to earn income.…

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Can I Get Both SSI and SSDI Benefits?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides two programs to financially assist people with disabilities. These federal programs, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are defined by two different sets of eligibility criteria. If you have few resources and limited income but have worked and paid into Social Security in the past, you could get help from both programs.

SSA Screens Applicants for SSI and SSDI Eligibility

SSA must first determine if you qualify for one or both federal disability programs based on your personal income, resources and your work history. Then SSA examines your medical condition to determine if it meets SSA’s definition of a disability before eligibility for either program is considered.

SSI Eligibility

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program. Eligibility for benefits is determined by what resources and income you have and where and how you live.

Personal resources cannot be worth more than $2,000 if single and $3,000 if married. Your countable income is calculated from earned and unearned sources and your living arrangement. If your income level is low enough to meet SSA’s eligibility requirements you could get up to $721 as an individual. Eligible couples receive up to $1,082. The more countable income you have the lower your SSI payment will be.

SSDI Eligibility

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is based on work-history earnings. You must have paid into Social Security through FICA taxes. FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes are payroll taxes that are used to fund Social Security and Medicare. You also must have a recent-enough work history.

If you worked 15 years ago, and then stopped, you would not qualify for SSDI. If you are 31 years of age or older, you must have earned five-years-worth (20 quarters) of work credits within the last 10 years to qualify for SSDI. Your cash benefit is calculated from your earnings history. It is the same formula used to calculate Social Security retirement benefits.

Countable Income Affects Your Combined Cash Benefit

Some may think that if they qualify for the maximum benefit for SSI, and also qualify for an SSDI benefit, that they can then get both maximum amounts each month. This is not the case. Combined benefits could give you just a few dollars extra than if you received one or the other. This is because your SSI benefit is based on need and your SSDI benefit will increase your countable income, reducing your “need” and SSI amount.

Let’s assume that you qualify for both SSI and SSDI benefits. Your SSDI disability benefit is calculated from your work history earnings record and is considered unearned income. If this represents your total income (you have no other income sources) SSA will subtract $20 and the difference becomes your countable income. Then SSA subtracts your countable income from the SSI federal benefit rate ($721 for an individual). The difference between the two becomes your SSI cash benefit.

The thing to remember is that your SSI monthly benefit is not a locked-in amount. The federal base amount cannot go above $721 for an individual; $1,082 for a couple, but if your total income increases in any month from earned or unearned sources, your SSI benefit amount will be reduced. Your SSDI cash benefit will never change no matter what other income sources come your way, excluding public insurance benefits such as Worker’s Compensation.

What to Expect When You Receive Both SSI and SSDI

SSI cash benefits fluctuate with your countable income. You will undergo periodic financial reviews of your income and resources to evaluate how much in SSI benefits you can receive each month. Your income level may also disqualify you from receiving Medicaid.

Unlike SSI, your SSDI benefits do not change if your income changes. You can count on your SSDI benefit for as long as you need it. SSA requires periodic reviews of your medical condition and your ability to work but they are months to years in frequency, depending on the severity of your medical condition. Your SSDI benefit will not increase if your disability worsens, but it remains constant regardless of other income sources, excluding public insurance benefits. Two years after receiving SSDI you will be eligible for Medicare.

Get Help Applying for SSI or SSDI

The eligibility rules for SSI and SSDI are very complex. If you need help applying for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, a Freedom Disability Advocate can evaluate your case and provide the help you need. Contact us at (800) 298-6885.

What is (SSI) Supplemental Security Income?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal assistance program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA.) SSI is a needs-based program available to assist people with few resources and low income who are 65 years of age or older, or who have a disabling medical condition that meets SSA’s definition of disability or blindness.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for People with Disabilities

Your eligibility for SSI is determined by what resources and income you have, where and how you live, and if you have a qualifying medical condition that meets SSA’s definition of a disability.

Medical Disability Requirement

Your condition must be listed on SSA’s list of impairments, or be severe enough to interfere with your ability to work and earn substantial gainful activity ($1,070 a month in 2014) at any job for a year. SSA requires a complete medical history and review of all documentation before making a final decision about whether or not you qualify for SSI based on a disability.

Resource Requirement

Personal resources cannot be worth more than $2,000 for individuals; $3,000 if married. Resources are things you own that are used to support you.

Resources include:

Cash

Bank accounts; stocks and bonds

Land

Vehicles

Personal property

Life insurance

Items that can be sold for cash to pay for food and shelter

Deemed resources: portion of resources from the person you live with

Not everything you own counts as a resource:

Your home

Household items

Wedding and engagement rings

Burial spaces and funds that are $1,500 or less

Life insurance policies valued at $1,500 or less

One vehicle used for transportation

Property or resources needed for self-support

Assistance support that is not counted as income

Cash for medical or social services that is not counted as income

Other assistance sources

Income Requirements

How much countable income you have determines the amount of your SSI monthly cash benefit. SSA determines that amount by subtracting income not counted from your total income.

Total income:

Earned income: wages earned from work or self-employment

Unearned income: Social Security and unemployment benefits, pensions, state disability benefits, interest from savings accounts, cash from friends or relatives

In-kind income: free food or shelter

Deemed income: part of income from the person you live with who is not eligible for SSI

money received from someone to pay expenses other than food or shelter

impairment-related work expenses

disaster assistance

Living Arrangement

How and where you live is also factored into your countable income. For example, if you rent or own a home and pay for your own food, you may receive more in an SSI cash benefit than if you live in someone else’s home and you don’t pay for food and shelter.

Calculating Your SSI Benefit

Your SSI benefit is calculated by subtracting your countable income from the SSI federal benefit rate. The SSI federal benefit rate in 2014 is $721 for an individual and $1,082 for an eligible couple.

The Basic Formula:

Total Income – Income not counted = Countable income

SSI federal benefit rate – Countable income = SSI federal benefit

SSI Payment Amounts Can Change Month to Month

Your resources and income are key factors in determining eligibility for SSI. Your monthly benefit amount is also affected by changes to the value of your resources and to the amount of income you may earn from working.

If your countable resources go over the allowable amount in the beginning of the month, ($2,000/individual; $3,000/married couple) you will not receive an SSI payment that month.

If your countable income goes over the allowable amount earned from wages ($1,433/individual; $2,107/married couple) you will not receive an SSI payment that month.

If there is a change to your living arrangement.

Some states also add supplements to the basic SSI payment. You may also be eligible for other social services such as Medicaid and food stamps.

Periodic Review Determines Continued Eligibility for SSI

Your SSI disability benefit is based on need, which is why your income and resources will be strictly reviewed by SSA to make sure that your income and resources stay within the limitations of eligibility requirements.

Your SSDI cash benefit is based on your earnings record and is not affected by changes to your countable income or resources, except if you are also receiving public disability insurance benefits and/or Worker’s Compensation. Once you receive SSDI benefits you will also be eligible for Medicare in two years.

Get Help Applying for SSI or SSDI

The eligibility rules for SSI are very complex. If you need help applying for Supplemental Insurance Income, or if you think you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, a Freedom Disability Advocate can evaluate your case and provide the help you need. Contact us at (800) 298-6885.

How Long Can I Keep My Disability Benefits?

If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits, could SSA discontinue your monthly checks? They could, but it would have to be because they have determined that your medical condition has improved and you are able to go back to work.

Your impairment and your ability to work are the two major criteria for eligibility of disability benefits. So, once you are approved, SSA will need to periodically check to see if anything has changed.

You will have to undergo two continuing disability reviews (CDRs); one on your disability, and one on your work status. How often these CDRs occur depends on your situation:

Six to 18 months after your disability benefits began if your disability is likely to improve

Every three years if your disability is expected to improve over time

Once every five to seven years if you are unlikely to improve

You don’t have to do anything about scheduling a CDR. SSA will know when to contact you. Since the CDRs heavily rely on medical evidence, it would be wise for you to keep detailed, ongoing medical records.

If SSA decides that your disability has improved enough for you to go back to work, they will discontinue benefits three months after making the decision that you are no longer disabled. You can always appeal their decision if you disagree.

The one thing you must do is inform SSA if your condition improves, or if you have gone back to work. The work CDR reviews your earnings and, if you earn more than the current Substantial Gainful Allowance, you benefits will stop.

But, you never have to worry about losing benefits if your disability continues to prevent you from working. Your disability benefits are yours for as long as you need them.

The Social Security Compassionate Allowance Initiative

Compassionate Allowance

Summary: The Compassionate Allowance initiative quickly identifies individuals who undeniably qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income. Disability benefits for these cases are received within days of filing applications for benefits.

The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Compassionate Allowance initiative effectively identifies applicants who clearly meet SSA’s criteria of disabling conditions. Claims are processed within days instead of months, so that disability benefits can be expedited quickly.

SSA continues to expand its list of qualifying medical conditions. Currently there are 200 conditions that meet SSA’s definition of disability, which is a condition that renders someone totally unable to work for a year or longer, and could result in death. These conditions primarily include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and severe heart diseases.

Confirmation of the medical diagnosis of the condition is often all that is needed to get approved for benefits under the Compassionate Allowance process. However, the application must be as complete as possible, with supporting medical information easily obtainable.

If you think your condition qualifies under the Compassionate Allowance initiative, Freedom Disability can help prepare a complete application package for you so that you can receive disability benefits as soon as possible. Contact us so that we can help you.

There are currently 200 medical conditions that qualify for Compassionate Allowance consideration. SSA expects to expand this list over time.

The foregoing information is based on published materials from the Social Security Administration including “Disability Evaluation Under Social Security”. It is meant to serve as an introduction to some of the factors used by the SSA in evaluating cases. It is no way comprehensive. While Freedom Disability Services can help you prepare an effective application for benefits, only the SSA can determine whether or not you qualify. For more information call Freedom today at (800) 298-6885.

What is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Summary: SSDI is a federal income assistance program managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSDI is available for people who have become seriously disabled and can no longer hold a job to earn income.

More About SSDI

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides an income safety net for people between the ages of 18 and 65 who have been unable to work for 12 months or longer because of a long-term, severe medical condition. This is a federal program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Qualifying Requirements

SSA reviews your medical condition and work history to determine eligibility. To qualify:

You must haveworked long enough and have paid into the Social Security system through FICA taxes

Cash Benefits

Benefits are calculated from how much you earned throughout your working years. It is the same formula used to calculate Social Security retirement benefits.

You must wait five full calendar months in a row after your approval date before you receive your first monthly check.

SSA also compensates you for the time it took to approve your application. This one-time lump sum payment represents the months you were entitled to benefits from the date SSA determined you became disabled.

Health Insurance Benefits

SSDI recipients are eligible for Medicare 24 months after their approval date for SSDI benefits.

Contact Freedom Disability for a Free Evaluation

If you think you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, contact us online for a free evaluation.